Clean-ish Bill of Health

4 surgeries and 3 months of brainless-ness later, here I sit pondering the meaning of my life.

Since I don’t have any insight or answers, lets talk about my health.

I really liked my US surgeon, he is a good man and a great surgeon and always spoke to me with kindness, empathy and in a way I could understand what was happening with my body and why he was making the decisions he made. He also saved my life, so there’s that. Oh, did I mention he’s also super cute like in a Hospital Drama kind of way?

My last weight recorded in the US was 218 pounds. I am 5’8″ That’s not my heaviest weight, but it was my weight as of April of this year (Fuck you April, just sayin’). Todays weight was 167 with clothes on. Almost exactly 3 months post VSG (Vertical sleeve gastrectomy) and he was super happy with the sleeve itself and my progress. That’s 51 pounds gone forever. Honestly, I was worried I didn’t lose any weight this month and he said that’s fine considering the wound, but I need to continue to work towards my goal weight.

How does it feel to be (sort-of) instantly thin – pretty fucking amazing if you ask me. Would I do it again? The surgery? Maybe, but here in the US. Maybe the same thing would have happened, even here. No one knows. I was a risky candidate to begin with. I don’t know what choices I would make if I wasn’t in such a dark place. But, since I did do VSG in Mexico, and I did lose 51 pounds, I DO feel pretty amazing!

That is, until I get undressed. It’s really unattractive and I am going to have serious issues with getting undressed. At the moment, I would pretty much eliminate any casual sex – I couldn’t manage my own anxiety about what they think.

So, that puts the weight loss in a very strange place. I cleaned my closet and attic and have enough clothes to get through the winter. I still had my “goal” clothes from my weight loss challenge with Bobby – clothes I never fit into as I don’t think I ever dropped under 180-185 pounds. And they would have been a bit tight then, even. I feel good in clothes, I look great.

Luckily, I don’t have the hair loss that many experience and my hair looks gorgeous as it’s longer than ever.

My boobs fell, but due to a breast reduction when I was about 24, they still face forward! They fit back into my smaller bras, but I can see losing more weight from them unfortunately. My band is back to a solid 36 from a 40. I was a 36-26-38 at my lowest weight now 120 pounds at age 24-30.

My ass is gone and flat! Yikes! Less worried about the ass and legs as they will be the first to come back IF I exercise. At the moment the skin literally hangs around the bones and it looks old and yucky. I need to fix that.

My underarms are officially chicken wings. I downloaded some exercises for them. I have more creases at the upper arm/armpit due to loose skin.

My son mentioned my neck looks older and he’s right. I lost quite a bit in my neck and have to get my everyday necklace shortened as it now hangs too low. Speaking of jewelry, all my rings are now loose and swim on my fingers.

And…..I did email Peloton to restart my subscription today….so that counts as a CHECK!

Weight loss after trauma is just weird. It’s like I woke up and it was gone. A lot of that has to do with all the surgeries post the VSG – so I almost forget about the VSG as it was simple compared to what followed and the trauma I endured.

I also can’t decide if I am going to tell or not? I have told many people, but not all people. Would I have told if I just lost weight and no trauma? I don’t know. People are so judgey. There is NOTHING easy about weight-loss surgery. It’s not an easy way out of anything.

I joked with the surgeon today about how I traded one beauty for another. I look good when I’m dressed up, but underneath the wrappings, nothing is what it seems. I asked him how many lives he’s saved where people come in worried about their vanity months later and he realized I was making fun of myself. I suppose I need to be in good humor considering I had a death wish.

I sit and wonder how a man like Tony would view my scars….and how my future men will view them. Its going to be very, very difficult to embrace certain positions, that’s for sure.

I’ve got a clean bill of health from the surgeon, excluding the possibility of a hernia in the next year. I will take it.

Therapy is another story entirely.

I’m still working on the therapy part and I do my homework, sometimes. I liked the relationship book she directed me to and I feel I have completed as much of the work in there as I can up til today. Next is embracing my inner childs voice. I do worry about continuing therapy in the New Year. I will have to start a $6000/year deductible again with no job. I will have to decrease the frequency of the visits if I continue to not work, and that worries me a bit. I also need to get my kids in to her over Christmas Break.

My body is ready to get back to the work of living, now I just have to convince my mind.

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Author: Madeline Harper

My journey through divorce and an emotional and sexual reawakening. Love, laughter, friendships, family and heartbreak included. And there is sex, lots of it, so close your eyes and turn the page if that's not for you!
While I started this blog as an endeavor to journal my thoughts and feelings in an attempt to better understand myself, it has become an amazing platform from which I have met some of the most interesting and wonderful people in my life.
My path is often crooked, but I hope you will share in the journey with me.
View all posts by Madeline Harper

This is FANTASTIC news! You are well on your way back. You’re a survivor and will be kickin’ ass again soon. And clearly your mind is on board, too. It’s beginning to engage and preparing for the journey. Congratulations and welcome back! I’ve missed you

When I was separating from my Ex, my therapist and I were discussing the whole dating/sex situation. I was telling her my fears of not having a “perfect” body because I was overweight, and other insecure crap. She replied, “Men don’t care. They are thrilled to have a naked, willing woman in bed with them. If it bothers you, then dim the lights and get busy.” She’s right.

Get in shape because it’s healthy for YOUR mind and YOUR body. Don’t worry about what guys will think because once they have your sexy self in bed, they will be too busy to think of anything.

Congrats on the weight loss! I’m so glad you are writing again. Everything you are doing right now is a positive steps. You will discover that action leads to more action and you are slowly, but surely chugging forward. Hugs to you!!